When I set out to discover what people think the most unattractive qualities in a partner are, I first made sure to stress that this wasn’t about physical appearances, as there’s no need for that kind of negativity here, or anywhere for that matter. Plus, they’re truly not what comes to mind when we think of times where someone we were interested in was no longer attractive to us.

1. Lack of Compassion. I despise narcissists. Women who are egotistical, fixated on themselves and their own problems, and constantly generate drama around their character. It’s as if everytime they have a problem, they rush to you, phone you, and act like you’re their ‘best buddy’. However, when you are the one with the problem, they act as if it is nothing and encourage you to’move on and forget it’. These women are just repulsive. – Vivi, 28

2. Too much drama! One of the most unappealing qualities I despise is a gossipy, foul-mouthed lady who disparages other women. My motto: if you don’t have anything pleasant to say about someone, close your trap! – Lucie, aged 48

3. Shallow Interests. Lack of interest in intellectual subjects. – Peter is 54. 4. A Preference for Game Playing. Playing hard to get, even in the least. A huge turnoff; most quality males will do what we term the ‘hard next’. Meaning we will move on if a girl is not plainly interested in us from the start. – Andy, 31

5. Insecurities. As a therapist, I can tell that based on what I hear from both men and women, the two most unappealing attributes that prevent individuals from pursuing relationships further are insecurity and mistrust. While many people have had experiences in the past that have caused them to feel this way, most others are unwilling to wait for them to get through it or to begin a relationship based on these difficulties. – Nikki, 46.

6. One-Upping. If a woman is discreetly (or overtly) competing with me or other women during a conversation, I do not want to continue speaking with her or include her in any future conversations. This type of competitiveness manifests itself through name dropping, or while you are excitedly telling others about a new experience, she comments how she has previously been there and done that. These competitive dames frequently commandeer group talks. – Marilyn, 49.

7. Negative thinking. Someone who is extremely negative about everything – a pessimist, a “Debby Downer.” I accept that some criticism is warranted from time to time, but it should be balanced by some positivity. If not, you simply put a damper on everything. – Jared, 28.

8. Narcissism. Someone who constantly talks about how busy they are. Like, we’re all quite busy. Get over yourself. – Stephanie, 23. 9. Elitism. A person who brags about their work and fortune in order to climb the social hierarchy. Nobody cares about your annual pay; you are bragging, and I dislike it. If you make so much money, how about paying for my dinner? – Laura, 32.